OYSTER PRICES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 15

OYSTER PRICES

Invercargill Rises ( N.Z. Press Association) INVERCARGILL, March 8. The retail price of oysters in Invercargill is Is M a dozen if a container is supplied, or 2s if not. There is an extra charge for oysters sold in glass jars. At 13 9d a dozen, oysters are Id dearer than last year. Cooked oysters cost 3s a dozen without chips, a rise of 6d. With chips they cost 4s a dozen, a rise of Is. Merchants have increased the wholesale price of a sack of oysters ait Bluff from £2 2s to £2 4s. The vzholesale prices of opened oysters will be Is 7id a dozen, a rise of Id on last year. One city oyster factory will send 200 sacks north by plane tomorrow. The season did not appear to have as good a beginning today as in previous years, with the average catch about 60 sacks a boat, making the catch about 700 sacks. It will be some days before the oystermen settle down in the favourite patches as they are still prospecting. Generally, the weather was unsatisfactory and a steady southerly hindered operations as did strong tides. All the boats had returned by 5 p.m., and by 5.45 pjn. the first oysters were on their way to Invercargill. Most city fish supplies received deliveries at about 6.30 pjn. Oysters were on sale after 7 p.m.

All fish shops had lengthy orders and were rushed until closing time. The rise in prices seemed to make little difference. Nearly every shop sold out between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.